Ryan Routh is facing two federal gun charges
AFPTV/AFP via Getty
Ryan Routh
The man charged in connection with what authorities have said was an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump allegedly hid for nearly 12 hours before fleeing upon being fired at by a Secret Service agent.
Trump was unharmed during the incident, which occurred Sunday, Sept. 15, at Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. Ryan Routh, 58, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession and receipt of a firearm with an obliterated serial number in connection with the incident, the Department of Justice said.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, cell phone data indicates that Routh was camped out from 1:59 a.m. Sunday to 1:31 p.m., the same time he was engaged by a Secret Service agent.
The incident occurred when the agent, walking a perimeter around the course as the former president golfed, allegedly spotted a rifle sticking out of a treeline. The agent then fired shots toward the rifle, the complaint states.
Authorities allege that a witness then spotted Routh flee from the treeline and get into an SUV before speeding away.
Routh was arrested after officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop, according to the complaint.
Related: Suspect in Donald Trump Alleged Assassination Attempt Now Charged: What to Know About Accused Man
At the treeline where the initial encounter occurred, authorities found a scoped rifle, a digital camera, two bags, a backpack and a plastic bag containing food, the complaint alleges.
Routh made an initial court appearance on Monday, Sept. 16 and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Sept. 23, prosecutors said.
Authorities have not yet revealed a possible motive.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
A former North Carolina resident, Routh is a convicted felon. In addition to more recent convictions for possessing stolen goods, North Carolina criminal records indicate that Routh was convicted of possession of a weapon of mass destruction in 2002.
The News & Record reported at the time that Routh had barricaded himself with a rifle following a standoff with police.
The incident at Trump’s golf club marks the second time the former president has been the target of an attempted assassination in the last few months. In July, a man fired several shots during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania. One person was killed.
Trump’s ear was bloodied during the incident but he was otherwise unharmed.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
